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Car purchase
tipsKids and Cars - Drive Is Much Dangerous Once
School Is In Session
by:
Jerry Appleby
The new school year has started. That means a lot more traffic on the roads, and a lot more kids crossing streets, parking lots and driveways. Parents drop off their children at school in the morning and pick them up in the afternoon.
And little makes anyone realize the dangers.
With today's prevalence of SUV's, Minivans, and sedans with high back ends, visibility behind these vehicles is seriously compromised. Once
mom or dad puts the car into reverse, they are taking it on faith that some is behind the car wish get out of the way.
Automobile manufacturers are dealing with this security problem by offering (on choice high-end models) a device designed to help a driver once
in reverse. These little electronic marvels, often called Reversing Aids or Backup Sensors, can virtually
be lifesavers.
Ask Dr. Greg Gulbransen.
On Oct
19, 2002 Dr. Gulbransen was backing his SUV into his private road once
he ran over his 2 year old son Cameron.
If Dr. Gulbransen would-be have been aware that thing
was behind him -- whether it was thing
as precious as his son, or as trivial as a mailbox -- he could have obstructed the car before a tragedy occurred.
If you've ne'er
seen or used a reversing aid, you power be astonied at how technically advanced they really can be.
Reversing aids use a variety of technologies to sense an object behind the car. Several units use Physicist
radar, and others use infrared sensors, but by far the most accurate know-how
of detection is the one the U.S. Navy uses on its submarines: sonar.
Sonar can operate in any weather, including direct light or rain. And it doesn't require that the car be moving in order to sense an obstruction.
And that's once
the device has to warn the driver.
Some of the least costly models use a tone which beeps more apace as you get closer to an obstacle. Tho'
you have no real indication of how far you are from an object, you can at least hear the relative distance simply by listening to the beeps. Compare that to different devices which really have LED displays on your dashboard. These are cumbersome -- all but useless -- because once
you driving in reverse, you naturally look behind you, and you'll ne'er
see the little red lights.
That's why an loud device is best. But even as better than a beeping indicator is one that tells you in a spoken voice exactly how far away you are. Not only do you not have to look forward at your dashboard, you'll cognize without approximation how more further you can safely back up.
When purchase
a new car, ask your dealer if a backup device is accessible for your model. If a new car is not in your plans, then search Google or your favorite search engine for Backup Sensors or Reversing Aids that you can add to your car.
Another valuable resource is the Technology page at http://www.KidsAndCars.org, a non-profit organization dedicated to children's security in and about automobiles. Janette Fennel, who runs the organization, has compiled a list of some reversing aids.
She's a big fan of these devices.
Ms. Fennell is as well a champion of children's safety, and is responsible for proposing more new legislation in this area, including the recently planned
legislation H.R. 2230, the Cameron Gulbransen Kids And Cars Security Act of 2005, which has as well been supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The bill would-be require that the Department of Transportation establish regulations and deadlines by which light vehicles "would be equipped with a variety of security measures, including a rear-ward visibility standard and driver notification systems", says Ms. Fennell.
This type of legislation is a necessary stepping stone in order to strengthen car security codes throughout the country.
Whether or not you have children, think with kid gloves
before backing up. Once
you buy a new car, ask the dealer if a reversing aid is accessible for your model. If not, consider adding one to your current car.
Even if you don't have kids, or if school is not in session, it's worth the peace of mind.
Just ask Dr. Gulbransen.
Simply about the author:
Boche Appleby is Manager of Public Security and Information at American Dealer Services, exclusive distributor of Bak-Talk, reversing aid with voice indicator and asdic technology.
Visit http://www.Bak-Talk.comfor more information on the security benefits and different applications for backup sensors.
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